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Nils Bruun: An Engineer’s Eye for the Abstract

January 29 | 5:30 pm - February 13 | 4:00 pm EST

Art Exhibition:
An Engineer’s Eye for the Abstract

Folded Paper & Metal Sculptures
by Danish-American Artist, Nils Bruun

The exhibition features folded paper sculpture, metal sculpture and photography by Nils Bruun (1938-2023). Nils was a Danish-American engineer with a love of flight and a sculptor’s eye. His captivating abstract origami is on display; some pieces are for sale. The exhibit, curated by Margret M. Ditolla, will run concurrent with the Harriet Nilsen Winter Concert and the 2025 Cultural Grant Ceremony to be held in February.

Exhibition on View January 29 – February 13, 2026
Opening Reception: January 29 – 5:30-8:30pm  |  Closing Reception: February 12 – 5:30-8:30pm

Exhibition Viewing Hours:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 12:00-4:00pm, Sundays from 12:00-2:00pm

Location:
King Olav V’s Norwegian Church and Cultural Center – Trygve Lie Gallery
317 East 52 Street, NYC (between First & Second Avenues)

Nils Bruun

Danish-American, 1938-2023

Nils was an interesting, unassuming and intensely curious man of many talents. A consistent thread throughout his childhood was flight … things, people, animals – anything that could fly, starting with Dumbo when he was three. Then it was birds, seagulls and most especially raptors…like eagles, osprey, even vultures. Wings that could flap and fold intrigued him, led him into mechanical engineering, airplane design and eventually into folded metal sculpture and paper folding, i.e., origami. One of his proudest accomplishments was participation on the team that developed a lunar roving vehicle at Grumman Aerospace Corporation.

With credentials from Rensselaer and Yale, he worked at places like Grumman, IBM and Rhode Island School of Design, and also at The Art Barge one summer in Napeague. Nils’ origami caught the attention of East Hampton and Sag Harbor gallerists at Crazy Monkey, Pamela Williams, Chase Edwards and Julie Keyes who showed and sold his large, small elegant abstract origami pieces over the years.

We are pleased and honored to present Nils’ artwork here at Trygve Lie Gallery in Manhattan, New York.

Details

  • Start: January 29 | 5:30 pm EST
  • End: February 13 | 4:00 pm EST

Venue